About
Chris Trotter
Latest articles
Some nations are congratulated for embracing the ideas needed to overcome adversity, others are damned for succumbing to ideologies that only make things worse
19
Some nations are congratulated for embracing the ideas needed to overcome adversity, others are damned for succumbing to ideologies that only make things worse
A day will come when recognising Palestine makes diplomatic sense. But it is not today
The Māori seats are not, by definition, for everyone
What happens when social cohesion unravels?
Most people think 'centrist' means 'moderate', but it ain’t necessarily so
The Coalition Government is aware of the electorate’s needs – why won’t it meet them?
If the election was scheduled for next week, Hipkins could win. Luckily for Luxon, it’s next year
38
If the election was scheduled for next week, Hipkins could win. Luckily for Luxon, it’s next year
In the face of the Covid threat, we were New Zealanders before we were anything else. National’s response would have been the same as Labour’s
62
In the face of the Covid threat, we were New Zealanders before we were anything else. National’s response would have been the same as Labour’s
Raising taxes will be a hard-sell for Chris Hipkins if all the additional revenue is pledged to funding pay equity
26
Raising taxes will be a hard-sell for Chris Hipkins if all the additional revenue is pledged to funding pay equity
If Chris Bishop steers National to victory in 2026, only one reward makes any sense
Not all children are nice. Not all of the insights of young people are wholesome
Over the next 15 months, the clear strategic imperative for all three Coalition partners is break-out. Each must seize as much of the Right’s ideological territory as possible for themselves
26
Over the next 15 months, the clear strategic imperative for all three Coalition partners is break-out. Each must seize as much of the Right’s ideological territory as possible for themselves
Conservative New Zealand is still waiting for the Coalition to keep its promises – and NZ First’s surging poll numbers may be registering their impatience
27
Conservative New Zealand is still waiting for the Coalition to keep its promises – and NZ First’s surging poll numbers may be registering their impatience
Until Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori understand that the battle for law and order is waged in every human heart, and that if it is lost there, then it will be lost everywhere, they will never be returned to, or reconciled with, power
22
Until Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori understand that the battle for law and order is waged in every human heart, and that if it is lost there, then it will be lost everywhere, they will never be returned to, or reconciled with, power
Race and class, eh? Can’t win with ‘em, can’t win without ‘em. Order your popcorn now
One of the great pitfalls of political nostalgia is that the protagonists of the present can all too easily be mistaken for the antagonists of the past
16
One of the great pitfalls of political nostalgia is that the protagonists of the present can all too easily be mistaken for the antagonists of the past
A National-led government that can no longer claim, with any credibility, to represent the nation, is a National-led Government on the ropes
12
A National-led government that can no longer claim, with any credibility, to represent the nation, is a National-led Government on the ropes
History’s judgement of the manner in which the Coalition Government’s majority expressed its racially-charged hostility towards Te Pāti Māori is unlikely to be kind, says Chris Trotter
36
History’s judgement of the manner in which the Coalition Government’s majority expressed its racially-charged hostility towards Te Pāti Māori is unlikely to be kind, says Chris Trotter
Labour’s first and most urgent mission is to knock Te Pāti Māori out of the race, says Chris Trotter
29
Labour’s first and most urgent mission is to knock Te Pāti Māori out of the race, says Chris Trotter
Inevitably, Nicola Willis’ budget played favourites – rewarding the Right’s friends at the expense of the Left’s electoral supporters
33
Inevitably, Nicola Willis’ budget played favourites – rewarding the Right’s friends at the expense of the Left’s electoral supporters
Chris Trotter says a political party caught speaking out of both sides on its mouth on key issues will soon find itself in big trouble
19
Chris Trotter says a political party caught speaking out of both sides on its mouth on key issues will soon find itself in big trouble
Low pay isn’t a fixable bug in our free market system, it’s one of its indispensable features, Chris Trotter says
17
Low pay isn’t a fixable bug in our free market system, it’s one of its indispensable features, Chris Trotter says
Chris Trotter assesses the reasons for Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party's big election win in Australia
15
Chris Trotter assesses the reasons for Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party's big election win in Australia
Chris Trotter says there is very little that is either logical or rational in the doctrines of the Catholic Church – or in its manner of choosing a pope
8
Chris Trotter says there is very little that is either logical or rational in the doctrines of the Catholic Church – or in its manner of choosing a pope
Would our political parties get past the Fair Trading Act? Chris Trotter assesses how each political party in Parliament differs between what they promise and what they deliver
17
Would our political parties get past the Fair Trading Act? Chris Trotter assesses how each political party in Parliament differs between what they promise and what they deliver